Pastor Donnie McClurkin plans to teach and empower up-and-coming musicians with his new record company Camdon music, and has enlisted the help of Andrea McClurkin Mellini and Nancey Jackson to ensure off-the- charts success.
McClurkin,54, may pastor Perfecting Faith Church in Freeport, N.Y., but he is also a distinguished singer in the gospel music industry who has received Grammy, Dove, Stellar and NAACP awards. Now, he has decided to provide a platform for other singers by creating the brand-new Camdon music group using the wisdom he has gained throughout his almost 20-year career.
Camdon music, a play on McClurkin’s first and last names, “Mac” and “Don,” is a new record label not wasting any time in releasing new artists. Andrea McClurkin Mellini is not only Donnie’s sister, but a new artist on his label who is stepping into the spotlight after serving as a veteran background singer for her brother.
Now, with her debut solo album, “Higher,” Mellini is using her voice to spread a message of hope and encouragement.
McClurkin has supplied his sister with the tools she needs to spread her message, and penned her first single “God Can.”
While Camdon Music released Mellini’s solo album last June, the label also released material from another one of its artists, Nancey Jackson Johnson. The vocal powerhouse is not new to the world of gospel music, with over 15 years in the business and two previous albums.
Andrea McClurkin Mellini is a singer on the Camdon Music record label.
After bringing her four-octave range voice to Camdon music, she also released an album last June titled “The Heart of Nancey Jackson Johnson.” Johnson explained that her material as a preacher’s kid who drew influences from all types of music.
“This is a heart thing; it’s a glimpse of my heart for God,” Johnson said. “I come from a musical family, but I also grew up in a wonderful period of the ’70s. Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, the Hawkins family—they were my foundations.”
McClurkin fondly remembers the gospel musicians of the past, insisting that the genre sparked various sounds that are popular today. He believes that any type of music fan can come to enjoy gospel music.
“Gospel music is the root music of jazz, it’s the root music of R&B, it’s the root music of pop and so on. Anybody who’s into music, whether they’re gospel heads or not, will always appreciate music,” McClurkin told CP. “Just like some of us gospel heads, we appreciate the Beyonces, we appreciate the creativity of the Ushers and folks like that because music attracts musical people.”
While he is accepting of different genres, McClurkin is not quick to label what some people may consider traditional gospel music.
Nancey Jackson Johnson is a singer on Camdon Music record label.
He went on to recall the progression of what many have deemed “traditional” gospel music.
While McClurkin is excited about the current state of gospel music, he admits that it is not always easy to sell records in the gospel music industry.
Still, the Camdon Music label head believes the artform that he loves will continue to thrive.
For more information about Camdon Music artists, please visit: http://www.camdonmusic.com.
McClurkin will be on hand to host his annual Crusade August 24 at Nikon at Jones Beach Theater.